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22 Jan 97 - 06:46 AM (#1551) Subject: Shanty in old shanty town From: J F Langan Would appreciate lyrics: "It's only a shanty in old shanty town The roof is so.....it touches the ground There's a queen waiting there, with a rose in her hair A shanty in old shanty town Give all my millions(mansions?) if I were a King???? HELP please. |
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22 Jan 97 - 01:49 PM (#1557) Subject: ADD: Shanty in Old Shanty Town & parody From: alarose@ncwc.edu It's only a shanty in old shanty town. The roof is so slanty it touches the ground. Just a tumble-down shack, by an old railroad track. Like a millionaire's mansion, keeps calling me back. I'd give up a palace if I were a king. It's more than a palace, it's my everything. There's a queen waiting there, with a silvery crown, In a shanty in old shanty town. There's a corrupt perversion as well: There's an outhouse among trash in our old back yard. The roof is so slanty, the seats are so hard. Just a tumble-down shack, by an old railroad track. Like a millionaire's mansion, keeps calling me back. There's one hold for father, another for me. The third is for mother, the unholy three. Just a tumble-down shack, by an old railroad track. The outhouse in our old back yard. |
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24 Apr 97 - 02:44 PM (#4286) Subject: Shanty In Old Shanty Town: Original lyrics. From: ambrose I am in need of the original lyrics to Shanty in Old Shanty Town. Help appreciated. ambrose |
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24 Apr 97 - 10:31 PM (#4294) Subject: RE: Shanty In Old Shanty Town: Original lyrics. From: gargoyle Do you have any hint of an idea how the lyircs begin? I have several, some tucked away in corners. The one sung to me in childhood begins: "In a little shanty town, t'was on a night like this," |
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24 Apr 97 - 10:42 PM (#4295) Subject: RE: Shanty In Old Shanty Town: Original lyrics. From: ambrose Lyrics go something like this: There is a shanty in old shanty town; The roof is so slanty it touches the ground. dah dah da dah dah, etc. A tumble down shack, just a little ways from the railroad track...
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25 Apr 97 - 04:31 PM (#4313) Subject: RE: Shanty In Old Shanty Town: Original lyrics. From: Kevin Type Shanty Town in the filter box and set the age box for 365 days. You'll find lyrics posted on 1/22/97. Kevin |
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30 Apr 97 - 03:45 PM (#4722) Subject: RE: Shanty In Old Shanty Town: Original lyrics. From: gene How about this?
It's only a shanty in old shantytown. |
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19 Jun 99 - 10:06 AM (#87934) Subject: Shanty and Old Shanty Town From: JKalgert@aol.com Trying to find not only the words, but also a recorded source for an old Tommy Dorsey song, "Shanty and Old Shanty Town. Thanks, John |
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20 Jun 99 - 04:27 AM (#88138) Subject: RE: Shanty and Old Shanty Town From: Ferrara Hi. You can find the names of countless recordings of this song by searching for "old shanty town" via your search engine. I found so many sites that, not knowing what kind of recording you wanted, I didn't try to identify any of them for you. BUT. Here are the words (from memory, watch out for mistakes!) of the chorus:
It's only a shanty in an old shanty town Good luck - Rita Ferrara |
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29 May 01 - 01:06 PM (#472386) Subject: lyric request From: GUEST,cyberaly@webtv.net I am searching for the words to an old song called "Old Shanty Town". I do not remember who sang it or who wrote it, but some of the words are: the roof is so slanted it touches the ground. I would apreciate any help you can give me, thank you,cyberaly |
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29 May 01 - 01:10 PM (#472389) Subject: RE: lyric request From: Noreen shantytown(Klik) |
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29 May 01 - 01:17 PM (#472401) Subject: RE: lyric request From: Noreen Neither link that I found on Google gives any information about the song, apart from it being included in a recording by the brothers creeggan. HTH Noreen |
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03 Nov 02 - 05:24 PM (#817692) Subject: ADDPOP: IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN From: Joe Offer I found an introductory "verse" at Lyrics World, but I was unable to verify whether it is part of the original song: I'm up in the world, Here are the lyrics I found in Warner's Most Fantastic Fakebook in the World (love that title): IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN (Young/Little/Siras) It's only a shanty in old Shanty Town The roof is so slanty it touches the ground; But my tumbled down shack, By an old railroad track. Like a millionaire's mansion, Is calling me back. I'd give up a palace, if I were a king It's more than a palace, it's my everything. There's a queen waiting there With a silvery crown, In a shanty in old Shanty Town. The song was featured in the movie, Lullaby of Broadway starring Doris Day and Billy DeWolf (1951). It was a #1 hit for Ted Lewis and his Orchestra, and it was also recorded by Johnny Long. Words by Joe Young Music by Little Jack Little and John Siras Copyright 1932, Warner Brothers |
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03 Nov 02 - 05:35 PM (#817696) Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town From: Judy Cook my dad used to play it on the piano & sing along. --Judy Cook |
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03 Nov 02 - 05:41 PM (#817698) Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town From: greg stephens What a load of pleasure all guitarist must have felt when they first experienced the joys of playing the chord changes C-E7-A7. And where is used more magnicently than the first line of this tune? |
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03 Nov 02 - 07:56 PM (#817771) Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town From: Joe_F In oral circulation, Putney School, Putney, VT, 1954: There's a shanty in the town On a little plot of ground Where the green grass grows all around, all around. The roof's so worn, So badly torn, That it tumbles to the ground. It's a little old shack, And it's set right back Twenty-five feet from the railroad track, Lingers on my mind Most all of the time, Keeps calling me back To my little old shack -- Feeling just as sassy As Haile Selassie -- If I were a king 'Twouldn't mean a thing. Put my boots on tall, Read the writing on the wall, And it wouldn't mean a thing, Not a goddam thing. There's a queen waiting there In a rocking chair, Blowing her top on some gator beer. Looking all around And a trucking on down, How I want to get back to my shantytown. |
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03 Nov 02 - 08:01 PM (#817774) Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town From: Joe_F Sorry -- for "kind" read "king". (Vox emissa nescit reverti.) The commercial versions seems to be missing quite a bit. Correction made in lyrics above. |
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04 Nov 02 - 01:30 AM (#817916) Subject: Lyrics/Chords Add: A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN From: Genie Here are the chords I use for this song: A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN G B7 E7 G B7 E7 I usually do the song rather slowly in 3/4 time, wchich is the way I believe the song was written. Then I switch to a boogie-woogie, faster 4/4 time and play it again, faster. * Technically, the chord I slide up to from A7 is not A#7, but I don't know it's 'real name.' I slide up one fret from A7 (002020) to a variant on A#7 (0030030) and then back down again. Genie |
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04 Nov 02 - 01:45 AM (#817922) Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town From: Barry T In big band renditions, the lyrics provided by Joe_F are sung in counter-point to the main tune. While the lead soloist croons the main tune, the 'band' members sing the jazzy melody in the background... much in the same style as was done with the smash big band hit 'Marie'. |
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04 Nov 02 - 02:20 PM (#818252) Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town From: Genie I'd love to hear it done that way, Barry. Know where I can find a recording? Genie |
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04 Nov 02 - 02:22 PM (#818256) Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town From: GUEST,Q Look up the Ray Noble version. His big band recordings of 1930-1934 have been re-issued. George Formby may also be reissued. |
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04 Nov 02 - 02:59 PM (#818296) Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town From: GUEST,Barry T 'Looks like it was originally performed (in the counter-point style) by Johnny Long in 1940... "A young bandleader from North Carolina, Johnny Long, had his entire band sing a parody of the sentimental tune in an up-tempo rendition that became very popular." There are MP3's on the web, so just search for "Johnny Long" and "MP3". (I can't right now; I'm at work!) |
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04 Nov 02 - 03:53 PM (#818344) Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town From: M.Ted There is a "soundie" of this tune that shows up occasionally on AMC, performed by Little Jimmy Little, who wrote the song--in swing tempo- This tune was apparently very popular with ukulele players of the time--A couple years back, at an extended care facility in North Jersey, a very elegant black woman confided that when she was younger, she had played the ukulele--here favorite tune? This one, which I was happy to play--she had athritis, and couldn't play any more but she could still sing-- |
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04 Nov 02 - 06:58 PM (#818507) Subject: RE: Shanty in old shanty town From: 12-stringer Bastin's RED RIVER BLUES names this song as part of the busking repertoire of Blind Willie McTell in the 1930s. |
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05 Nov 02 - 02:49 PM (#819231) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: Mudlark Genie...thanks for the tab. I play this song similiarly, except that I play it in D, your * chord in that key is Bdim, which I think would mean that your * chord in G would be Edim...which worked well when I tried it. As I have to capo in D to fit my voice, I'm going to give your key a try. I liked very much your version of All of Me, too! Thx again for your input. |
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05 Nov 02 - 03:00 PM (#819243) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: Genie Yeah, Mudlark. I just don't do the whole 4-finger diminished chord thing. Is it still called Edim, even though I'm just sliding the 2 fingers of A7 up one fret? Glad to share chord patterns-- both ways. (Actually, I usually capo 2, so I'm singing in A.) Genie |
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05 Nov 02 - 05:25 PM (#819365) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: Mudlark You've got me there, Genie...all I know about chords can be found on my falling apart 35-yr old MelBay chord chart. And I don't see anything on it with the configuration you describe. |
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06 Nov 02 - 09:55 PM (#820439) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: Genie BTW, I tried playing the full diminished chord instead of that bowdlerized "A#7" thingy, and I like it better with just the two fingers slid up a fret. (I do the same thing with the B7 chord in the key of E. And sometimes I slide an A major 7th up and down. Don't know what those chords are called, either.) |
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07 Nov 02 - 10:16 AM (#820727) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: Louie Roy Genie,the chord you use A#7 is actually (B flat 7th).Due to artheritic in my wrists I play B flat by barring the 4 string on the 3rd fret and the 1st string on the 6th fret and I use this chord a lot.I also play B the same way except I bar the 1st 4 strings on the 4th fret and the 1st string on the 7th fret.Hope this helps Louie |
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07 Nov 02 - 10:37 AM (#820740) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: GUEST,MCP Joe O - the introductory verse was part of the original song. It appears on several lyric sites with it and if you check the 2 entries at Levy (search on shanty does it) the start of the verse if quoted (no sheet music for it unfortunately). Mick |
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07 Nov 02 - 10:06 PM (#821249) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: Genie Louie, not having studied much music theory, I can never keep straight how you decide when a chord is X# vs. Yflat. How DO you determine that, anyway? But the chord I use is not a true dominant 7th. Bflat 7 would be 113131, and what I'm playing is 003030. Genie |
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05 Dec 02 - 01:05 PM (#841554) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: GUEST,Jay Young The "If I were as classy as Haile Selassie" version was recorded by the Miller Brothers Orchestra. If it hadn't been for the old Radio SonicNet service (now dead thanks to the RIAA), I'd never have heard it. I'm now trying to find this particular recording on vinyl or mp3. |
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09 Dec 02 - 06:51 AM (#843762) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: GUEST,jess what is it like in a shanty town |
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27 Dec 02 - 08:59 AM (#854015) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: GUEST,MillieP to Joe F. Thank you so much for the printing of the counterpoint lyrics. My Sister-in-law used to sing it that way at family parties but we never got her to write it down. We sang it a Christmas this year and it brought back many happy memories. |
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09 Oct 06 - 11:04 PM (#1854612) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in old shanty town From: GUEST,Mikie I just watched a Lawrence Welk show on PBS in which they do a tribute to "sweet bands". They performed "shanty" with the uptempo counter melody. I haven't heard it in 40 years and wondered if I'd ever hear it again. Now, thanks to this blog I have the lyrics to it an I am now on a mission to find a recording of it. |
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12 Oct 06 - 12:23 AM (#1856495) Subject: Lyr Add: IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN From: Jim Dixon Here's the catalog entry from Indiana University Sheet Music Collections: Title: IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN Composer: Little, Jack, 1900-1956 Composer: Siras, John Lyricist: Young, Joe, 1889-1939 Performer: Abe Lyman; Alice Joy Publisher: M. Witmark & Sons Place of publication: New York Date of publication: 1932 Call Number: M1 .D48 Box: 146 Item: 027 Performance Medium: Piano, Voice and Chords First Line: I'm up in the world, but I'd give the world, to be where I used Chorus First Line: It's only a shanty in old shanty town, the roof is so slanty Artist: Harris Genre: Popular song Subject term: Home Sweet Home (Home, House, Cottage, Cabin, Hideaway) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can hear a recording of Ted Lewis and His Band performing this song at The Red Hot Jazz Archive. I don't know the name of the vocalist, but I think you might be amused by his verbose style of embellishing the lyrics. IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN (Young/Little/Siras) Say, I'm up in the world, But I want to tell you, folks, that I'd give the whole world To be back, way, way back, where I used to be, You know, it's a heavenly nest, That's where, that's where I rest the best, And it means more than the world to me. Oh, say, it's only a little shanty, a shanty in old Shanty Town. Why, the roof, it's so slanty, it nearly touches the ground. That tumble-down shack, by an old railroad track, Like a millionaire's mansion, it's calling me back. Ah, say, I'd give up a palace, a palace, if I were a king. Why, to me it's more than a palace, folks. It's my life. It's my everything. And there's a queen waiting there, a queen, I tell ya, uh-huh, with a silvery crown, In a little shanty in Shanty Town. And I've played with the big stars down east and out west, And I've lived, and, yes, lived like a big star, and I've mixed, mixed with the best, Ah, but you can turn out those lights, turn 'em out, I tell ya, and take my name down, And you'll be welcome in my little shanty in old Shanty Town, Yes, sir! |
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30 Oct 10 - 11:01 PM (#3019714) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST,Christine Rebbert I just finished reading "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", and this song is mentioned several times in it. I was born in Brooklyn and was familiar with almost all of the songs referred to in the book. It made me feel "at home"-ish in a way I haven't felt for years and years... My mom used to sing the jazzy version after the standard version when I was growing up, and I've spent a lotta time tonight searching for those jazzy lyrics. Now I have to memorize it! Who'd-a thunk I'd want to recreate anything that my mother used to do... |
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20 Apr 11 - 01:12 PM (#3139087) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST,hh Here's the version I know: It's only a shanty in our old backyard, The roof is so slanty, the seats are so hard, It's hot in the summer, cool in the spring But oh, in the winter, speed is the thing! There's one hole for Father, another for me, The third one's for Mother, the unholy three, I sit all alone like a king on a throne, In the shanty in our old backyard. |
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25 Sep 11 - 10:22 PM (#3228997) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST,June-Sth. Cant. Sth.Is. NZ I heard this old song sung, accompanied by a four string banjo, with vocals & Banjo interludes. Fantastic. Played slow. Some great fingering/chords etc. Unfortunately I didn't hear the name of the group. Would very much like to hear it again as I play Uke & Banjo. |
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26 Sep 11 - 05:12 AM (#3229098) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST,Hootenanny One posting above refers to Bruce Bastin's book where it is noted that this song was in the busking repertoire of Blind Willie McTell. Another blues man /songster who included this in his repertoire was Big Bill Broonzy who also recorded it. I can remember trying to play it his way on my first guitar. Another of Bill's "pop" songs was 'The Glory of Love'. Wish I could play that one the way he did it too. Hoot |
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14 Jan 14 - 07:29 PM (#3592143) Subject: Lyr Add: IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN From: Q (Frank Staplin) Ted Lewis added a bit, but he did include a jazzed-up introduction, absent in other lyrics posted here. Sheet music lyrics: Lyr. Add:In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town Music, Little Jack Little and John Siras; Lyrics Joe Young, 1932 I'm up in the world But I'd give the world to be where I used to be. A heavenly nest Where I rest the best Means more than the world to me. It's only a shanty In old Shanty Town. The roof is so slanty it touches the ground. But my tumbled down shack by an old railroad track Like a millionaire's mansion is calling me back. I'd give up a palace if I were a king It's more than a palace, it's my everything. There's a queen waiting there with a silvery crown In a shanty in old Shanty Town. Played and sung by Ted Lewis and his Orchestra in the film, "The Crooner," 1932. Later groups included the Ink Spots and Doris Day. |
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14 Jan 14 - 08:10 PM (#3592147) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: Joe_F I wonder who contributed that wonderful couplet, "Put my boots on tall, Read the writing on the wall". It seems to appear nowhere but in the version I learned in highschool. |
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20 Feb 14 - 07:11 PM (#3603380) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST,Sue My Dad used to play this on ukulele and these are the words he sang. I never heard it anywhere but from him so I have no idea if he made up this version or if it was popular in the 1920's when he was young: There's a little old shack by the railroad track with the green grass growin' all around, all around. The roof is so slanty, it touches the ground. And Alice is there with her silvery gown, in the shanty, in old Shanty Town. I'd give up a castle, if I were a king. I'd give up my mansion, my everything Just to see Alice there in her silvery gown, In the shanty, in old Shanty Town. I've gotta get back to my Sha-an-ty Town. |
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08 Nov 16 - 11:15 AM (#3818986) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST,margaret |
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08 Nov 16 - 05:57 PM (#3819087) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: Joe_F It seems my version (boots & all) made it to Britain: http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Shanty_Town.htm |
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27 May 20 - 05:57 PM (#4055540) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST,Don Robinson Something Smith and the Redheads had a recording also. They sang the counterpoint lyrics and then repeated the main lyrics. I haven't heard those lyrics in what seems a hundred years. Do you think you could find them? Thanks. |
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27 May 20 - 06:57 PM (#4055549) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtJ4CI4iUkg That's them singing it. |
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08 Jun 20 - 09:45 PM (#4058266) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: Jim Dixon The Internet Archive has a boat load of recordings, by— Coleman Hawkins and His All American Five Dan Roberts and His Home Towners Dick Robertson and His Orchestra Doris Day with The Norman Luboff Choir & The Buddy Cole Quartet Edmond Hall and His Quartet Henry "Red" Allen & His Orchestra Johnny Long and His Orchestra Pepi Adorno and His Orchestra Quaker City String Band Somethin' Smith and The Redheads Ted Lewis and His Band |
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13 Jun 21 - 07:11 PM (#4110046) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST,BrianW AFAIK the counterpoint lyrics, including the "boots on tall, read the writing on the wall" come from Slim Gaillard's Royal Rhythm Boys recording in 1939. That version also features Slam Stewart bowing his bass and scatting along with with his riff, a signature of his in many recordings. It was copied by Johnny Long in 1945 as a big band arrangement which included Slam Stewart's riff done for orchestra. Both versions are available on Youtube. |
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13 Jun 21 - 08:15 PM (#4110055) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST,# https://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/i/inashantyinoldshantytown.html There's more info on the song at that link, including a list of who did it and when. The 1952 lyrics are there also. |
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13 Jun 21 - 09:48 PM (#4110063) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: GUEST,# Sorry. That should read 1932. |
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14 Jun 21 - 10:05 AM (#4110124) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town From: The Og Somethin' Smith and the Redheads did a countermelody in 1956 that went something like this... There's a shanty in a track an' although it's just a shack There's a G.I. loan, gotta pay it back, the paint's brand new, But the loan is overdue, and I'm gonna, blow my stack It's a knocked-out pad, but the neighbors are mad, 'cause the cat next door is a swingin' lad Out o' my mind most all o' the time, this squaresville settlement's drivin' me mad I'd be just as sassy as Trigger or Lassie, I wouldn't even pay my union dues A toast to all, let's have a ball, hi-fi records blow rhythm and blues Gotta queen waitin' there in a contour chair, gave up rockin' 'cause she's no square But I'm jumpin' up and down an' I'm actin' like a clown 'Cause I gotta get back to my shanty town |